Starting off this absolutely killer lineup at the always fantastic Red Gate was an absolute favorite of mine, the trio FLOATING FACES. Brought to the eager masses by Ripsesh Records, who never fails to deliver the straight goods by crafting the best lineups.
Pouring their garage hard rock straight into our ear holes, this huge crowd went nuts from note one. The first few songs had some technical issues, dampening the momentum. Still, once they got rolling, it was head banging, body flailing, smashing and crashing good times.
Their high energy output and infectious good-times attitudes are always welcome, and they are a tough act to follow. Their new songs are killer -faster and more intense- and get tighter with each offering.
Next was one of the handful of bands well into double-digit offerings, the consistently stellar GADFLY. This trio brings absolute fire every time with their Persian metal goodness.
The lead singer sings with great conviction; such energy and the music surrounding them fit well. Sometimes chuggy and head banging, others ripped with fast grooves that this uber-involved crowd soaked up.
The pit was a mass of sweaty humanity, crashing and banging, and we were with Gadfly every step of the way. This was definitely their crowd, as they belted out the songs multiple times, which had to be the best thing in the world to hear from the stage.
Finally, a band up from Seattle closed out this stellar night of music, the trio MONSTER WATCH and their hard stoner jams. They were tight as fuck, and every song was on point. Hard and driving, the slightly thinned crowd lost no steam.
Great vocals, especially the scream, which was so full and delicious, and the bass and drums had killer chemistry. They were so tight and thick. Everything they did got the feet moving.
Not that there was much room for flailing in that living mass of humanity. Smashing and crashing off everyone as they drove the freight train home was a blast.
He was very pleased with tonight’s offerings.